The dawn came, and with it the waking of the citizens of Konoha. From hours before dawn, and even into the afternoon, various shinobi found their way onto the dusty streets of their town, resting between missions, some preparing to go and take the missions that would cost them their very lives. But this was the order of things, something that would never change.
Lee had risen with the sun, going first for a brisk jog, greeting the sun with a cheerful smile on his face, feet pounding out a staccato on the well-worn path. He took this trail each morning, his efforts rewarded by the clear chirping of the bird in the trees around him and at times the silence that fell over the forest. It was at least an hour past dawn, the colors of the sunrise already faded into an azure sky when Lee returned to his home to shower and prepare for the day. He, for once, didn't plan on training for the entire day; instead, he had chosen to take the first half of the day off and train from late afternoon and into the night. It had been his custom to train from dawn to moonrise before the chunin matches; his body wouldn't permit such rigorous training just yet.
The young shinobi entered his home, pushing the door open and whistling a cheerful tune as he happily made his way to the shower. He passed through the living room, almost walking by the figure seated on his couch without noticing. He stopped in his tracks, however, when he felt cold eyes following him across the room, and halted to look at his visitor, blinking in minor confusion.
"Gaara…uhm…hello." His voice held a note of uncertainty, a puzzled look on his face, "you're in my house."
Gaara merely gave him a look, his expression unchanging. Lee still stood where he had stopped, unsure of what to do, unsure of how to treat this uninvited guest.
"You didn't ask to come in." His voice has changed to carry the barest hint of annoyance; he sets down the water bottle that he had carried with him on his jog, turning to fully face the sand-nin.
"you've got a talent for stating the obvious." Gaara replied, moving to stand. He had taken his gourd off; it was leaning against the wall, just inside the door. Lee wondered how he had managed to miss it. "I realize that I'm in your home."
"uhm…yeah. Why exactly…?" Lee let the question trail off to hang in the uneasy silence that seemed to fill the air between them.
He was rewarded with a shrug, "You've been on my mind. Tell me why."
Lee was more than slightly taken back by this question, unsure of how to answer; he shifted slightly- Gaara's eyes followed his every movement. It was unnerving to Lee how the pale jade orbs seemed to trail him, reminiscent of a hunter watching his prey.
"I…don't know." Lee paused before finishing the sentence. I've been on his mind…? But I've thought of him as well.
"What is it?" Gaara's question was sudden, something flashing through his eyes at the expression Lee's face. Concern? Animosity? Condescension?
It would be a lie if I told him 'nothing.' Lee found himself thinking; but why the sudden urge to tell him the full truth? Lee answered before he could fully think this new dilemma through to its full extent.
"You've been on my mind as well, Gaara-sama." Lee answered, deferring to the young man with a title of respect; it had become known in Konoha that he was to be the next Kazekage. Although why now Lee felt the need to honor him with such a title…he couldn't tell.
Gaara shook his head, "Gaara. You…are above calling me 'lord'."
Lee gave him a curious look, asking why without words. Gaara gave him a curt smile before replying, lifting his fingertip to his cheek as he spoke, fingers running over the pale skin.
"you are the only one to hurt me; to make me bleed…" Gaara's lips curved further into the smile, and he let his eyes slip closed for a moment.
"I'm sorry."
Gaara's eyes shot open, "You shouldn't be."
"oh." Lee couldn't think of what else to say, the single-syllable slipping past his lips in a rush of breath. Gaara tore his gaze away from Lee's face, glancing somewhere to the left of his choppy, black hair, eyes vacant.
"I'm going to leave." Gaara said, no warning preceding his words; Lee's eyes only caught the swirl of the younger man's sash as the turned to leave.
"Gaara!" The leaf-nin's voice cut across his living room, a curiously breathless quality about it.
"What?" Gaara looked over his shoulder; Lee found himself staring at the green eyes that seemed to see past his face, and into the core of his being. It was a strange feeling, as if Gaara had invaded something personal, had made an intimate connection with him. And Lee couldn't say that he minded.
"N-nothing Gaara." Lee averted his eyes, feeling his heart skip a beat.
With that, the future Kazekage and shinobi of the sand was gone.